Karuna Suites & Residence

We stayed for two weeks, and the staff were really friendly. Our butler and receptionist deserve five stars, and the team always responded quickly when we raised concerns. The issues were that our unit had no laundry or dryer, and water kept appearing on the floor without us knowing where it came from.

I loved having breakfast and Nespresso coffee in the room while watching the Boracay sunrise. The room was clean, with a fully equipped kitchen that even had a toaster. Ask for a sea-view room. The location is on the quieter, less crowded Back beach, near Bulabog Beach, which kite surfers enjoy. Getting to food and activities on the front beach, stations 1-3, takes longer. There’s a free shuttle to d'mall every hour until midnight, and the ride is about 7-10 minutes. Plan around that, or take a tuktuk for 100-150 pesos. The receptionists were friendly and the service was generally great. On some days, though, they didn’t replenish the coffee capsules, and I needed help figuring out the washing machine.

The rooms were tidy and clean, and the hotel has nice views. There’s a free shuttle to and from the beach, though you’ll need to use the stairs.

You have to go uphill to get there, so it isn’t very convenient, but the view is good. If it’s quiet, who needs convenience?